Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi has opened up on alleged merger agreement with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Breaking his silence at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday morning, Obi clarified that no deal had been reached with any party.

The former Anambra State governor called on patriotic Nigerians in the political sphere to unite ahead of the 2027 elections to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of mismanaging the nation’s resources.

He criticized the high levels of corruption in the country, noting that the cost of governance had skyrocketed, resulting in a significant rise in public debt under the APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu. Obi also condemned government officials for allegedly squandering public funds in 2024 through frequent foreign travels.

Addressing the security challenges in Nigeria, Obi lamented the prevalence of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping-for-ransom, which continue to claim innocent lives. He described the situation as tragic and called for urgent action to address the crisis.

In a related development, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate, has denied claims of a power-sharing agreement involving himself, Peter Obi, and the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

In an interview with the BBC, Kwankwaso expressed anger over the allegations, stating that he was unaware of such an arrangement. He noted that he had heard reports of Atiku’s camp meeting with regional leaders, including clerics, to spread the narrative.

The former Kano State governor reaffirmed his contentment since leaving the PDP for the NNPP and distanced himself from any claims of a power-sharing deal.